Neural Correlates of Inverted Faces in Individuals with High and Low Autistic-Like Traits

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Neural Correlates of Inverted Faces in Individuals with High and Low Autistic-Like Traits Svjetlana Vukusic1*, David P. Crewther1, Joseph Ciorciari1 and Jordy Kaufman1 1 Swinburne University of Technology, Australia Faces are considered to be processed holistically rather than on the basis of features. The face inversion effect disrupts holistic processing through altering the configuration of facial features making the face more difficult to identify if presented inverted. Individuals with autism have difficulties in both face recognition and processing of emotional expressions. They usually show absent or reduced face-inversion effect. The aim of the current study is twofold: first, it tries to examine the interactions between encoding of structural face information and expression by presenting different facial expressions in upright and inverted orientations; and second, it investigates the relationship between neural responses to upright and inverted facial expressions and autistic-like traits in the general population by dividing subjects in those with high autistic-like traits (High AQ) and low autistic-like traits (Low AQ). We recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) during a 1-back repetition task, with 14 High AQ (High AQ score > 19) and 15 Low AQ (Low AQ score < 12) subjects. The results for the face specific N170 showed that High AQ group in comparison to Low AQ group displayed decreased sensitivity to both face and house inversion. Emotional effects on the N170 component were not selective for any specific expression in both High and Low AQ, but in Low AQ group emotional effects interacted with face orientation. These results may suggest that the N170 effects reflect encoding of structural face information rather than processing of affective valence, and that differences found in High AQ may reflect differences in general visual information processing rather than in specific affective processing. Keywords: autism, autistic traits, Emotions, face inversion effect, face processing, EEG/ERP, N170 Conference: ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 29 Nov - 2 Dec, 2012. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Emotion and Social Citation: Vukusic S, Crewther DP, Ciorciari J and Kaufman J (2012). Neural Correlates of Inverted Faces in Individuals with High and Low Autistic-Like Traits. Conference Abstract: ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2012.208.00166 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 15 Oct 2012; Published Online: 17 Nov 2012. * Correspondence: Ms. Svjetlana Vukusic, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia, s.vukusic@outlook.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Svjetlana Vukusic David P Crewther Joseph Ciorciari Jordy Kaufman Google Svjetlana Vukusic David P Crewther Joseph Ciorciari Jordy Kaufman Google Scholar Svjetlana Vukusic David P Crewther Joseph Ciorciari Jordy Kaufman PubMed Svjetlana Vukusic David P Crewther Joseph Ciorciari Jordy Kaufman Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.